Compressed-air automobile starter



F. M. VERMILION coMPREssED AIR AUTOMOBILE STARTER July 27 1926.

3 Sheets-Shen?. l

Filed Nov. 28, 1922 IN VE N T03 l f7/U ',Vrm 3.107'

WITNESS/5S @Mx www ATTORNEYS July 27, 1926.

F. M. VERMILION COMPRESSED AIR AUTOMOBILE sTARTE Filed Nov. 28, 1922 s sheets-sneu 2- /Nwsuron EM.'V2^m 250m Zww manners WITNESSES Wim" jf M' July 27 1926.

F. M. VERMILION COMPRESSED AIR AUTOMOBILE STARTER s sheds-sheet 5 Filed Nov. 28, 1922 Patented July 27, 1926.

omitenl srares rar-enr ermee.

FRANCIS M- VERMILILON, Sire-trees, OKLAHOMA. Assieme QF Lenoir F. Heini/Ironia, or HGGINs, TEXAS.

@Ne-Tele@ 'se COMPRESSED-AIR AUTOMOBILE STARTER.

Application filed November 28, 1922. Serial No. 603,826.

My invention relates to improvements `in automobile, starters and it consists of the constructions, combinations and mode of operation herein described and claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide a. starter ylior automobile engines which is adapted to be operated by any suitable, pre. Vsure fluid but preferably by compressed air.

A further object of Vthe invention is to provide means for restoring;` the pressure ot air in the tank immediately after carrying out a starting` operation.

@ther objects and advantages will appear in the following speciication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whieh Fig,4 l is a plan View with parts in sec` tion, illustrating'the normal and non-opera tiiie positions off `the starter mechanism.

2 is a yView similar to Fig'. l illustrating how the starter works upon depressing the starter pedal once, v

Fig. 3 is a detail plan View of parts of the mechanism on the shifting shaft,

'Fig'. 4 is a detail cross section on the 'line 4 4 or' Fig'. l, illustrating the construction ofthe starter pedal and associated parts,

and

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on the line.

5-5 of Fig. 1. e*

"Figure 6 is a View similar to F igure l illust'ratine` the apparatus in position to oper ate as a pump.

'ln the drawings, 1 is the chassis of an lautomobile or other motor vehicle upon which 1s mounted the engine 2. The fly wheel '3 of the engine has a part or the periphery formed into a spur gear 4 so that engagement of the starter pinion 5 may be made when the starter pedal G is depressed once so as to bring' the `first stop 7 (Fig. 4) into engagement with the under side ot the fQt-board 8. i

This ldepression of the starter vpedal 6 rocks the ACountersha'tt 9 through the arm l0 which is carried by the shaft 'and is connected to the arm at 11 (Fig. 4), and the shifting` shaft l2 is accordingly moved a predetermined distance toward the left (Fig. l) Vthrough the medium of another arm 13 also carried by the shaft 9 and attached to the Vshaft-'l2 by the pin and slot connection The left-wise movement of the .sha-ft brings the starter pinion 5, into engagement with the spur Irear 4 and also into engagement with the starter gear l5 on a shaft i6 which is supported in bearing' ll". i

The aforesaid leijtwise n'ioremeijit ot `thc shifting` shaft l2 performs anun'iber of op.- erations, first, engages the starter pinion 5 with the gears 4 and` l5 as lalready stated) second, causes the rocking of a bell crank 1,8 and the downward shifting; of: a rod 19, the cams 2O of which will then move into position beneath the stem 2l. ojt valves 22 and close these valves; third, causes the dog 23 F ig. 5) to slightly turn the shaft 24 so as to brine' the right' end 25 of the rocker 26 F ig. l) into engagement with the Valve rod 27; fourth, causes the cam 28 to ride over the end of the ValigeI rod 2( and more the slide valve 29 outof the neutral position over the inlet ports BO and 3l and the exhaust p ort 3 2; lifth, causes the opening' of the compressed air Valve 33 so that air from the tank 34 may flow thTQil/gll the pipe 35 into the valve chest 36 for the operation ofthe starterengine; and sixth, puts the spring 37 under tension in readiness to pull the shiftine; shaft l2 back against the stop 38 when the pedal 6 is finally released.

Shifting of the bell crank l@ is accomplished by a pair of collars 39 with opposing` rounded ends lined upon the shaft 1,2. Tljie cam rod 19 is supported in bearings 40 which in turn may be attachedto any adjacent fixed part of the chassis. The Valves 22l are air outlet valves through which air is adapted to be pumped into the pipe 4l and in turn back into the tank 34 at such'times when the starter pedal is depressed to the limit and when the stop 42 engages beneath the footboard 8.-

At such a time, namely, when the starter 4engine 43 is operated as a pump, air is drawn into the cylinder 44 through intake valves 45 and 46 by the reciprocatious of the piston 47. This piston is on a rod 4 8 which carries a connecting rod 49 joined to a crank o() on the starter shaft 16. Ai pair of lugs 5l and 52 actuate the rocker 26 when the engine 48 operates as a starter.

The dog- 23 is located on the underside of the shifting;` shaftl2 and upon the aforesaid prlmary movement of the shaft, is adapted to engage a pin 53 (Figs. l, 3 and Cil 5) which extends out from a crank 54 in the same direction as the rocker sha'tt 24. A spring 5'5 is attached to this pin and the engagement of the dog 23 with the pin puts the spring under tension and keeps it so (as Well as it keeps the shaft 24 in the rocsed position) until the operator either releases the pedal 6 or presses it down again in order to accomplish a pumping operation. ln the last event, a further movement ot the shaft l2 toward the lett Will result and as a consequence, the dog 23 will pass over the pin 53 (then in the dotted line position in Fig. 5) so that the spring 55 is tree to pull the pin backand restore the rocker shaft 24 to its original position.

While in this original position, the rocker 26 of the shaft 24 assumes a position somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 5, the right end being disposed above the passage 56 between shoulders 57 on the valve rod 27. rEhe member 26 is capable not only of rocking (by virtue of which fact it is called a rockei") but is also capable ot' partially revolving due to its mounting` on the shaft 24'. The latter function occurs when the shaft is rocked by means of the dog 23 and the right end 25 is brought down into engagement with the valve rod 27 so that itn'iay drop into the passage 56. The former function occurs when the engine 43 operates as a starter, at which time the lugs 51 and 52 actuate the rocker to reciprocate the valve rod 27 and valve 29. r)The lugs 51 and 52 are made high enough so that moving the right end of the rocker 26 into engagement with the rod 27 Will not move the left end of the rocker out of the Zone of the lugs 5l and 52.

It is to be observed in Fig. 5 that the dog 23 has a stop shoulder 58 at one side oi the pivot. The purpose of the stop shoulder is to make the dog rigid While moving toward the left, at Which time it carries the pin into the dotted line position, but to enable he dog to rock on its pivot upon the. return of the shaft 12 and when the dog encounters. the pin 53 from the lett side so that the dog may again assume its position in full lines in readiness for another operation. The cam 28 Works on the saine principle as the dog 23 because it has a stop shoulder 59 Which makes the cam rigid when moving leftvvise but enables the cam te pass the end of the rod 27 upon the return et the shaft. There is an upright pin 6G on the end ot the valve rod 27, the obvious purpose of which is to reach the cam 23 and also the recess (El ot a centering or neutralizing means 62. This centralizing means comes into play upon the second depression et the pedal 6, the inclined surfaces adjacent to the recess 6l moving the pin 60 toward said recess and Consequently shifting` the valve 29 into a neutral position over the ports which it controls. A similar neutralizing means 72 serves to replace the valve in neutral upon release of the pedal after only one deprcssion.

In order that the pressure of air in the tank 34 may not become excessive, provision is made oit' a poppet valve 63 which is held seated by a spring 64 et a predetermined strength. l,lhen this strength is exceeded by the Apressure ot air in the tank, the valve becomes unseatcd and a Whistle 65 is caused to blow, sounding an alarm to Warn the operator to restore the pedal 6 from the pumpingposition 42 to the original position in Fig. 4. ln this connection it to be ob served that the shank 66 ot the starter pedal passes through a slot 67 in the tootboard, the slot being` long enough to let the stops 7 and 42 pass through when the pedal is depressed. A leat spring` 68 presses the shank forwardly in the slot and also insures contact ot the stops with the underside ot the ootboard. The slot is faced With plates 69 and 7() to n'event Wear.

The operation may be briefly reviewed, although the details thereof are described in connection with the description of the mechanism above. Assume the parts to be in the normal or non-operative position in Fig. l. The engine 2 is at rest, the pedal 6 is extended to the limit, the piston 47 is in a mid position Where it stops at the end of the last operation by virtue of the Weight of the crank 50, the slide valve 29 is in a neu tral position Where it closes all ports to the cylinder 44, the rocker 26 is in the position shown in Fig. 5 wherein the right end 25 is lifted from the valve rod 27, the air valve 33 is closed, and brackets 71 on the rod 19 hold the valves 22 open thereby relieving the cylinder 44 o'l all compression and permitting the crank 50 to gravitate as stated. The air valve 33 is turned by a crank 74 Which is carried by the stem ont said valve. rlhe crank is connected at 76 (Figs. l and 6) with the shatt l2 so that shitting movements of the shaft will turn the valve 33. lt is also necessary to close oil the air reservoir 34 at such time. and a control valve 73 is provided for this purpose. The control valve includes a bent arm 77 providing a pin which occupies the slot 73 of an articulated connection 79 on the continuation of the foregoing valve stem 75. The slotted connection permits the opening ci the air valve when shifting the parts from the position in Figure l to the position in Figure 2, Without opening the control valve 73. The aforesaid limit ot eXtension ot the pedal shank 66 is fixed by the engagement ott the stop 33 toward which the shitting shaft 12 is pulled by the spring 37.

Assume noW that the operator desires to start the engine. The starter pedal 6 is depressed until the first stop 7 comes into engagement With the tace plate 69 on the uny rod 27.

derside, the pull of spring 37 through the shifting shaft 12, arm 13 and arm 10, holding thestop in such engagement.

The rocking of the countershaft 9, resulting from the primary depression of the pedal 6, causes the starter pinion to move approximately to the position a at Which position it engages both the spur gear 4 on the fly Wheel 3 and the starter gear 15. An lapproximately similar length of movement occurs in'other parts which have connection with the shifting shaft 12. For example, the bell crank 18 rocks far enough to bring the cams 20 beneath the stems 21 of the valves 22 so as to lock them, however, .first displacing the brackets 71 so that they may close. rlhe shaft 24 is rocked sulficiently to bring the right end 25 of the rocker 26 into engagement With the valve The cam 28 shifts the valve rod 27 downwardly a sufficient distance to cause the valve 28 to uncover the inlet port 30,

and the valve 33 is opened so as to admit air from the tank 34. Air under pressure thereupon enters the upper end of the cylinder 44 and drives the piston 47 downwardly. The inlet valves 45 and 46 cannot open because the internal pressure holds them closed.

Said shifting of the valve rod 27 brings the passage 56 into place under the rocker 26 so that the end 25 drops into place. rlhe downward movementof the piston 47 soon brings the lug 5l against the adjacent endv of the rocker so that the latter is rocked upon its pivot and the valve 29 slid upwardly to open the inlet port 31 and place the other inlet port and the exhaust port 32 in communication. The piston 47 is now driven upwardly and similar cycles of operation are repeated until the automobile engine 2 starts. Assume now that the operator desires to replenish the tank With air. Further depression of the pedal 6 brings the stop 42 into engagement with the underside of the face plate 69 and also causes the counters-haft 9 to rock further and the shifting shaft 12 to move further to the left until the starter pinion 5 approximately assumes the position 5. The further shifting of the cam rod 19 resulting from the second depression of the pedal 6 causes the cams 2O to pass the valve stems 21 so that the valves 22 are free to open. The dog 23 releases the pin 53 of the arm 54 (Fig. 5) so that the spring 55 revolves the shaft 24 to its former position at which time the end 25 of the rocker 26 has moved out of the passage 56. The valve 29 is also moved to the original neutral position shown in Fig. 1, by reason of the fact that the neutralizing means 62 moves upon the pin 60 and causes the centering of the valve.

As the engine 2 is now running, the ily Wheel 3 becomes the driver for the engine 43, and at each reciprocation of the piston 47, air is drawn into one or the other end of the cylinder 44 through inlet valves 45 and 46, the same air being discharged at the valves 22 and so into tank 34. The air valve 33 was closed and the valves 73 opened on the aforesaid second shifting of theshaft l2 so that no air can escape from the tank inthe particular operation now under discussion. A further depression of the pedal 6 so that the stop 42 can be freed from the face plate 69, enables restoring all parts to the original position in Fig. 1.

vVhile the construction and arrangement of the improved automobile starter as herein described and claimed is that of a generally preferred form, obviously modiiications and changes may be made Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

1. ln con'ibination with an engine having a part to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said part,a reservoir of Working fluid for the starter engine, means to control the passage of fluid from the reservoir to the engine, means to control the passage of tluid from the engine to the reservoir, a shiftable member having an idle element engageable with said driven and driving means, means operable by said shiftable member to actuate said fluid reservoir control means, other means operable by said shiftable member to actuate said engine fluid control means, and a pedal in connection with said shiftable member arranged to be primarily depressed to more the idle element into engagement with the driving and driven means, cause one operable means to hold closed thel fluid control means from the engine and cause the other operable means to open the control means from the reservoir to the engine and thereby cause the engine to operatel as a. starter, and upon a second depression to close the control means from the reservoir and enable opening of the control means from the engine and further shift the idle element in respect to the novv driving means and noiv driven means but Without disengaging, to thereby cause the operation of the engine as a pump to replenish the reservoir with Working fiuid.

2. ln combination with an automobile engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to the driven means, a tank of Working :duid for the starter engine, a normally closed valve for controlling the flow of fluid from the tank to the starter engine, check valves for admitting fluid from the starter engine. to the tank but preventing a back flow of fluid from the tank to said engine. a shaft having a loose pinion, means adapted to be actuated by the shaft to close the check lll) Cil

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valves against opening when the engine is operated as a starter, means adapted to be actuated by the shaft to open the Iiuid valve, and means arranged to be primarily pressed to shilt the sha'lit for the engagement ot the pinion with said driving and driven means, cause the closure ot said checl; valves and the opening ot the l'luid valve so that the starter engine mav operate the driven means, and arranged to be secondarily operated to again cause 'the closing' or said valve and the release of the cheek valves so that the driven part, nonv operated by the engine, may canse the operation et the starter engine as a pump to replenish the tank,

S. ln comluination with means to be driven, a starter driving means acent to said driven means, a tank containi- Working `iluid for the starter engine, a norigially closed valve controlling the iioiv oli' fluid from the tank to the starter engine, a slide valve normally in a neutral position over the starter engine ports, outlet check valves situated in a pa sage betvveen the starter engine and the tanlr, a shait which adapted to be shifted and which carries an idle pinion, a rod having cams adapted to be moved upon shi ting oi the shaft, means to move the slide valve trom the neutral position upon shitting' ot said shaft, means to open the fluid valve upon shifting oit said shalt, and means in connection with the shaitt adaifited to be moved a predetermined distance to connect thc idle. pinion With the driven and driving means, cause the cams on said rod to hold the checlr outlet valves closed, shi'tt the slide valve and open the iluid valve so that the starter engine may operate to drive the driven means, and adapted to he moved a tin-ther distance to shift the cams from the outlet valves, restore the slide valve to the neutral position and close the Afluid valve, (he driven means then causing the starter engine to act as a pump to replenish the fluid in the tank,

ll. In combination with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said `driven means, a source of operating `duid for the starter engine, slide valve normally assuming a neutral position over the ports of the starter engine, a shiitable shalt having a loose pinion, a pedal arranged to be primarily d pressed a certain distance to shift the shaft and move the pinion into engagement with the driving and driven means, means carried by the shaft to thereupon shift the slide valve from the neutral position so that iiuid may enter to operate the engine, and means carried by said shaft to again centraline the slide valve in respect to said ports upon a second depression oit the pedal.

5. In combination With an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having :in onsr 'ne harina me hr'ivinp' driving means adjacent to said driven means, a shiftable shaft having an idle pinion, a pedal having connections to the shaft to shift the pinion into engagement with the driving and driven means upon the first depression oi' the pedal, a source ot operating' fluid for the starter engine, a slide valve normally in a neutral position over the starter engine ports, means carried by the shiftable shaft adapted to shii't the slide valve from said position upon the lirst depression of the pedal 'to admitluid for the operation of the starter engine, means adapted to again shift the slide valve into its former neutral position upon a second depression of the pedal, and means enabling the lirst slide valve shitting means to pass without disturbing the slide valve upon restoring the pedal to the original position.

G. ln combination with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said driven means, a sli ftable shaft having a loose pinion, a pedal having connections with the shaft and adapted to be depressed a predetermined disce to move the pinion into engagement with said driving and driven means, a source oli operating fluid 'tor the starter engine, a slide valve normally m a neutral position over the starter engine ports, a cam carried the shaft and adapted to shift the valve out oit the neutral position upon said depression of the pedal to admit fluid for the operation ot the starter engine, neutralizing means carried by the shalt and adapted to restore the slide valve to the former neutral posit-ion over said ports and cut off the fluid upon a second depression of the pedal a predetermined distance, and a pivotal mounting i'or said cam allowing the cam to yield only upon a return movement of the shaft When said pedal is restored to the original position.

7. 'In combination with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said driven means, a tank containing' air un der pressure to actuate the starting engine tor the operation of said engine, outlet valves'at the extremities ot the starter engine cylinder` a shiftahle shaft having an idler pinion through which the Work oi the starter is imparted to the engine, a pedal in connection with the sha-tt adapted to be depressed twice, the first depression moving the shaft to bring the pinion into engagement With the driving and driven means, means then admitting' compressed air ttor the operation of the starter engine upon said movement oit the shaft a cam rod having cams moved into position upon said first depression ol the pedal to hold said valves in a closed position, said cams releasing the valves on the continued movement of the cam rod upon the second depression of the pedal, and a pipe furnishing communication valveio'd and above `the shoulders and the otlreren'd between lugs onthe piston rod of 'thestarter engine, a shiftable shaft having a pinion, a pedalwith conneetionsto the shaft adapted to be depressed to shift the shaft and move the pinion into enga-gement With said driving and driven means, means nor mally holding the rocker in the aforesaid position, and means carried by said shaft operating against said holding means when said pedal is depressed to move one end of the rocker toward the valve rod in readiness to drop into said passage but not moved far enough to raise the other end above said lugs.

9. ln combination with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said driven means, a fluid controlling slide valve normally in a neutral position over the starter engine ports and having a rod lwith shoulders forming a passage, a pivoted rocker having one end disposed over the valve rod and above the shoulders and the other end between lugs on the piston rod of the starter engine, a shiftable shaft having a pinion, a pedal with connections to the shaft adapted to be depressed to shift the shaft and move the pinion into engagement with said driving and driven means, means normally holding the rocker in the aforesaid position, means car` ried by said shaft operating against said holding means when said pedal is depressed to move one end of the rocker toward the valve rod in readiness to drop into said passage but not moved far enough to raise the other end above said lugs, and means also carried by the shaft to shift the valve rod, bring said passage beneath the rocker and move the slide valve from the aforesaid neutral position to admit fluid to the starter engine.

l0. ln coinbination with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said driven means, a piston having a rod with a pair of spaced lugs included in said engine, a slide valve having a rod with a pair of shoulders forming a passage, a rocker having one end between said lugs and the other end disposed above the shoulders on said rod, a partially revoluble shaft upon which said rocker is pivotally mounted, a shiftable shaft having a loose pinion, a pedal in connection With theshaft adapted tobe depressed to-`move vthe shaft and engage the pinion with vr"said driving and driven'means, resilient means normally holding the `rocker sha-ft and rocker in the aforesaid position, andmeans carried by the shiftable shaft arranged `to partially rock the shaft against tlietension of said `means to move one -endof the rocker upon the Hvalve rod in readiness' to enter `the passage without movin-'g theother end of the rocker above the 'lugs on the starter yengine Apiston rod. l

' '11. In combination Ywith an engine having means yto 'be driven, a starter engine 'having driving means adjacent' to said driven means, a piston having-a rod with a pair of spaced lugs included in said engine, a slide valve having a rod with a pair of shoulders forming a passage, a rocker having one end between said lugs and the other end disposed above the shoulders on said rod, a partially revoluble shaft upon which said rocker is pivotally mounted, a shiftable shaft having a loose pinion, a pedal in connection with the shaft adapted to be depressed to move the shaft and engage the pinion with said driving and driven means, resilient means normally holding the rocker shaft and rocker in the aforesaid position, means carried by the shiftable shaft arranged to partially rock the shaft against the tension of said means to move onel end of the rocker upon the valve rod in readiness to enter the passage without moving the other end of the rocker above the lugs on the starter engine piston rod, and a cam carried by the shiftable shaft to move the slide valve from the neutral position for the admission of fluid to the starter engine and enable the rocker to enter said passage for the resulting reciprocation of the slide valve by the reciprocation of the piston rod.

l2. In combina-tion with an engine having means to be driven, a starter engine having driving means adjacent to said driven means, a tank containing compressed air for the operation of the starter engine, a valve to control the flow of air from the tank to the engine for the operation thereof, valves for controlling the passage of air from the engine to the tank for the replenishment of the latter, a shiftable shaft having a loose pinion, resilient means normally holding the shaft against a stop, a starter pedal having a shank with a stop which is adapted to hold the shank at a predetermined place of depression, means connected between the shank and the shaft causing the pinion to engage the driving and driven means, means operated by the shaft to open the control valve from the tank, means operated by the shaft to prevent the outlet valves from opening, and another stop on the shank limiting it at another place of depression at which time the shiftable shaft is moved further, causing the closing of the tankcontrolled valve and the release of the ontlet valves enabling the starter engine to replenish the tank by virtue of operation by said engine driven means, said shank being held in its various positions by the tension of the spring on said shiftable shaft.

1B. An automobile starter comprising a starter engine, a piston included in the engine having connections to a crank on an operating shaft, a compressed air reservoir,

an air valve to control the oW of air from the reservoir to the engine, a pair of valves controlling a passage from the engine to the reservoir, a closed control valve in said passage7 a rod having brackets to engage the valve stems and hold said pair of valves open when the engine is inoperative as a, starter, thereby relieving the engine cylinder 'from pressure so that the crank will gravitate and centralize the piston, a shifter shaft having one connection to the rod and' another connection to operate both the air and control valves, said rod displacing the brackets to permit the pair of valves to close, said second connection opening the air valve, means on the rod to then engage the valve stems to lock said pair of valves closed, and means in said Control valve connection permitting the opening of said air valve Without opening the control valve.

FRANCIS M, VERMILION. 

